Is 512 MB of RAM enough?

Purchases a 512MB module from OWC (macsales.com). It cost about 50 bucks.

512MB is not enough, but most of the other computer companies supply 512mb as standard, and I can tell you, windows xp chokes on 512mb also.


Glor

Hello,

512 MB is fine for the low-end consumer that the iMac is targeted at. If you just browse the Internet, write letters, play some music, and just tinker for fun, then 512 MB is plenty (if you don't demand the best performance).

For the needs you mention, you really should have 1 GB of RAM minimum.

And, personally, I would install 2 GB of RAM.

I wouldn't buy it from Apple with the computer though. You'll spend considerably more for it from Apple.

Buy the machine with the stock memory, and then buy the memory at a lower price at a good Mac company.

I buy all my memory from Other World Computing. Their stuff is top-notch, and the price is much lower than Apple's.

http://www.macsales.com

For the needs you mention, you will most definitely see an improvement (significant) between 512 MB and 1 GB.

I've worked with 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB, and 2 GB for video editing on the iMac G5 systems. And, I found that 1 GB is where things start getting acceptable. And, for my use, 2 GB is where things got perfect.


I hope this helps.

Like you, I made the error of getting the iMac with 512 megs of RAM. This was a costly mistake.

You will probably never be happy with 512. I could not do even the simplest Office applications. Movies choked, iTunes stuttered. Everything loaded slowly.

One of my kids has a 4 year old DELL laptop with 512 megs in it, it ran circles around the iMac. I was to say the least bitterly disappointed, especially given all the hype I had heard about Apples.

Then I put in 2 gigs of RAM. It was the smartest move I made and well worth the money! iMacs are RAM hogs, there is no way around it. I have not seen any PC that can't outperform this iMac when they both have 512 RAM. On the other hand once I put the two gigs in the change has been night and day.

The internet loads quickly, the pages load almost as smoothly as my daughters high end PC, and it cost more than this iMac. Movies dont choke at all, the iTunes are superb, and the Office applications are just about the same as on a PC. I can no longer type faster than the screen can print!

Bite the bullet, accept the fact that without at least 1 gig you are going to be "performance challanged". Get the 2 gigs on matched sticks. You won't be sorry.

Doug 🙂

I also highly recommend two gigs of RAM. I ordered my iMac with 2GB and probably overpaid but I got what I wanted. The speed and performance is excellent and I can leave a ton of apps open at all times.

Check this link below to Patriot ram at $80 a gig. This is the best price I've ever seen for iMac memory.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220078

Just another thought, but if you are a student there is a pretty hefty discount, plus a free Nano.

Sell the Nano on the Student Union Bulletin board, and take the student discount on the puter to get the RAM.

Doug

From my personal experience, you really should consider the refurbished iMac Intel from the Apple Store. At the $1099 price you'll get a like new computer with exact same warranty as a new one. Use the savings to add RAM.

Considering all the daily items that we pay extra just for convenience (everyone knows they can get a drink cheaper at the supermarket than at the fast food place), the higher price of a Mac with extra RAM is one of the few things in life that's really worth it. Once you experience it, you'll know it's true.

i bought a refurbished 17" and not only did it look brand new i got a surprise when i set it up......a 250 harddrive instead of the listed 160.refurbished are as good if not better than new since they have been checked over more stringently for defects!

Try getting the computer first, then think about upgrades. They chose 512 mb because verything the computer comes with will work with 512 mb. Yeppers, 1 gb is better, but not necessary for your computer to function.

With 1 gb some things will work faster, and many won't seem any different at all. It depends on what you are doing. If you plan on video editing or creating complex presentations more memmory is in order. But for most common tasks, such as internet, email, iphoto, etc. 512 works pretty darn good.

Sorry to offend those who believe a computer can only work with the maximum amount of configuerabloe memmory!

Ed

iMac G5 17" ALS with 1 Gigglebyte ram Mac OS X (10.4.4) Also a homebuilt Sempron, a Compaq, and a Dell laptop...oh my!

Original post stated "mainly using it for video and audio production."

It is a waste of valuable time to sit around and wait for results from a dual core processor when adding RAM will increase the current usefulness and flexibility, not to mention what the future benefits might be. Some of us want, need, or expect our Macs to do a little more than just "function." It has long been known that added RAM increases the "smoothness" of function.

Maximum RAM ordered from Apple in a custom build of the iMac Intel has been available at a bargain price (relative to Crucial's market pricing) since introduction. I don't recall ever before seeing this bargain pricing of RAM with previous iMacs. For the many who hope to use their new machines "for video and audio production" this is a great opportunity being provided by Apple, who is not really in business to sell hard drives, RAM and other computer parts.

When I ordered my first generation iMac G5 the option for maxed out RAM was double the price offered at Crucial, and made no sense to me. Apple's price for maxed out RAM as part of the custom build of the iMac Intel has been reasonably close to, or at times LESS than, the Crucial price for the exact same RAM. Ordering the same memory from Apple after the computer is purchased is complicated by the fact that their pricing of the separate parts is much higher (due to their not wishing to be in the parts business).

Use the apple discount for education. I bought this memory about a month ago from newegg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231069
I know it is off brand and many will argue against it, but all the reviews have been great and the memory has been flawless. The money you save on the discount will more than pay for the 1 gig of memory and you get a free ipod. You will never regret buying the mac. Apple has many factors beyond what you and I consider when they package and market computers from a financial standpoint in order to be profitable. The computer does run fine with 512 (I used 512 for several weeks). It just doesn't run as fast as it could. I do alot of video compression and converting and I definitely needed more, but it is by no means slow out of the box. Hope this helps. By the way, you can always add the ram later. Try it and see if the 512 affects you as much as it does others. Good Luck.

i added 1g to the 512 and although mismatched the machine flies. used a third party seller and it only cost around 100 bucks extra.

I have been told by many people that to use your iMac for gaming or full out editing, it would be best to invest your money into at least a GB.

i didn't know the imac was for the low-end consumer when i bought it. it sure doesn't seem like it. even the G5 only comes with 512mb ram as a base option.

at any rate, i agree, 512mb, even for a "low-end" consumer is not enough. at least 1gb. offset by getting 1.83ghz and buy more ram rather than 2ghz with less ram.